Abstract
This paper describes the development of a Decision Support System (DSS) for groundwater management of the ‘Zeuss Koutine’ aquifer in southeastern Tunisia using the WEAP-MODFLOW framework. First, a monthly MODFLOW model was developed to simulate the behaviour of the studied aquifer. A conceptual model of the study area was designed and a WEAP schematic representing the real hydraulic system was developed. In addition to the studied aquifer, other water resources available in the region, such as desalination plants and groundwater, were taken into consideration in this DSS. Inputs to the hydrogeological model include natural recharge and inflow from higher neighbouring aquifers. Outputs are mainly agricultural, touristic and urban water consumption. It was shown that the DSS developed was able to evaluate water management scenarios up to 2030, especially future water consumption, transmission link flow and active cell heads of the MODFLOW model for each time step. Results for the Zeuss Koutine aquifer demonstrated that desalination plants already built in the cities of Jerba and Zarzis have contributed to decreasing the continuous drawdown observed before 1999. The use of a sea water desalination plant to supply Jerba and Zarzis in the future is a solution for reducing the Zeuss Koutine aquifer drawdown. Defining its optimal capacity over time poses a new research question.
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig1_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig2_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig3_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig4_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig5_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig6_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig7_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig8_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig9_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig10_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig11_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig12_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig13_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig14_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig15_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig16_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig17_HTML.gif)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs11269-013-0266-7/MediaObjects/11269_2013_266_Fig18_HTML.gif)
References
Ayvaz TM (2009) Application of harmony search algorithm to the solution of groundwater management models. Adv water resour 32:916–924
Chapoutot MJM (2008) Suivi de la stratégie méditerranéenne pour le développement durable. Sophia Antipolis. www.planbleu.org/.../Tunisie_Etude_Nationale_Tourisme_2008.pdf. Accessed 26 May 2011
Coelho AC, Labadie JW, Fontane DG (2012) Multicriteria decision support system for regionalization of integrated water resources management. Water Resour Manag 26:1325–1346
Essid M (2005) Geology and hydro geology of Zeuss Koutine river basins. Water and soil conservation works and their impacts on water resources. Faculty of Sciences of Tunis
Fersi M (1979) Estimation du ruissellement moyen annuel sur les bassins du Sud-Est, du Sud-Ouest et du Sahel Sud. Direction générale des ressources en eau, Tunis, 10 p
Gaivoronski AA, Sechi GM, Zuddas P (2011) Balancing cost-risk in management optimization of water resource systems under uncertainty. Phys Chem Earth A/B/C. doi:10.1016/j.pce.2011.05.015
Giupponi C (2007) Decision support systems for implementing the European water framework directive: the MULINO approach. Environ Model Softw 22:248–258
Hadded R (2008) Update of the hydro geological model of the Zeuss Koutine aquifer and evaluation of the impact of water and soil conservation works on the recharge. Dissertation, National Institute of agronomy of Tunisia
Harbaugh, AW (2005) MODFLOW-2005, The U.S. geological survey modular ground-water model—the ground-water flow process: U.S. Geological survey techniques and methods 6-A16, variously p
INS (2006) National Statistics report of Tunisia for 2004. DELTA Edition, Tunis
Ioris AAR, Hunter C, Walker S (2008) The development and application of water management sustainability indicators in Brazil and Scotland. J Environ Manag 88:1190–1201
Khare D, Jat MK, Deva Sunder V (2007) Assessment of water resources allocation options: conjunctive use planning in a link canal command. Resour Conserv Recycl 51:487–506
Letcher RA, Croke BFW, Jakeman AJ (2007) Integrated assessment modelling for water resource allocation and management: a generalised conceptual framework. Environ Model Softw 22:733–742
Li YP, Huang GH, Nie SL, Liu L (2007) Inexact multistage stochastic integer programming for water resources management under uncertainty. J Environ Manag 88:93–107
Liu S, Giks P, Papageorgiou LG (2010) An optimisation-based approach for integrated water resources management. Comput Aided Chem Eng 28:1075–1080
Loucks DP, da Costa JR (1991) Decision support systems. Water resources planning. Springer, Berlin, 574 pp
McCartney MP (2007) Decision support systems for large dam planning and operation in Africa. International Water Management Institute, Colombo, 47 pp. IWMI Working Paper 119
Mysiak J, Giupponi C, Rosato P (2005) Towards the development of a decision support system for water resource management. Environ Model Softw 20:203–214
Rees HG, Holmes MGR, Fry MJ, Young AR, Pitson DG, Kansakar SR (2006) An integrated water resource management tool for the Himalayan region. Environ Model Softw 21:1001–1012
Sedki A, Ouazar D (2011) Simulation-optimization modeling for sustainable groundwater development: a Moroccan coastal aquifer case study. Water Resour Manag 25:2855–2875
Van Cauwenbergh N, Pinte D, Tilmant A, Frances I, Pulido-Bosch A et al (2008) Multi-objective, multiple participant decision support for water management in the Andarax catchment, Almeria. Environ Geol 54:479–489
Zhang C, Wang G, Peng Y, Tang G, Liang G (2012) A negotiation-based multi-objective, multi-party decision-making model for inter-basin water transfer scheme optimization. Water Resour Manag 26:4029–4038
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) and the Arab Center for the Study of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD), the National Institute of Agronomy of Tunisia (INAT), the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), and the Regional Administration of Agriculture and Drinking Water of Medenine governorate for their support of this project.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hadded, R., Nouiri, I., Alshihabi, O. et al. A Decision Support System to Manage the Groundwater of the Zeuss Koutine Aquifer Using the WEAP-MODFLOW Framework. Water Resour Manage 27, 1981–2000 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-013-0266-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-013-0266-7